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Changing the transmission fluid on a 2016 Honda Pilot.

3.3K views 23 replies 9 participants last post by  parshisa  
Yes, change it ASAP. The idea that changing old ATF will ruin the transmission is an old wives tale, IMO. ATF on this vehicle is a 30K mile service item....yours is at 3x normal life and is going to be hot garbage (ruin and not properly lubricating the transmission) at this point. Use Honda DW-1 ATF (EDIT: or ATF 3.1 for Touring/Elite models) or any of the good aftermarket alternatives.

You need to drain and fill the fluid multiple times, driving a bit between each service to ensure good dilution of the new fluid in with the old, including the fluid that circulates in the torque convertor. Start with 3x drain and fill and see how the car behaves.

Owning an older vehicle means keeping up with scheduled maintenance. Use the forum here as a resource, or simply take it to the dealer and have them do it for you. You are coming up on needing a timing belt job (timing belt, tensioner, water pump, coolant, pulleys) at around 100k miles. No high-mileage vehicle is maintenance free, so you've probably got some catch up work to do.

Edit: Also, ask the dealer to apply the transmission software update from TSB 17-014. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2017/MC-10108688-9999.pdf
 
Should I buy the ATF at the dealership or can I just buy it a auto parts store?
What trim do you have? EX, EXL use DW-1, while Touring and Elite use Honda ATF 3.1. Some have used Valvoline Maxlife in either application, but if you want regular Honda fluid I would buy it at the dealer just to make sure you get what you need. Auto parts store will only carry aftermarket fluid, not manufacturer branded stuff.